SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) has opted to forego the recruitment of guest professional players for the inaugural match of the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season.
Instead, they are placing their trust solely in the pool of locally nurtured talent, marking a pivotal moment in the association’s commitment to homegrown development.
While Meghalaya had enlisted the services of three professionals – Rajesh Bishnoi, Tanmay Mishra, and Nakul Verma – for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 and Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day tournaments, the decision to field a team solely cultivated within the MCA’s framework signifies a strategic shift.
The MCA has long aspired to showcase the prowess of players who have honed their skills under the association’s guidance, and the upcoming Ranji Trophy season provides the perfect platform for this vision to unfold.
Meghalaya’s opening match is slated against Arunachal Pradesh in Anand, Gujarat, commencing on Friday.
The team is poised to face other formidable opponents in their group, including Hyderabad, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Sikkim.
Leading the 15-member squad is Captain Kishan Lyngdoh, who, along with his team, faces the dual challenges of showcasing their individual brilliance and representing the prowess of Meghalaya’s cricketing ecosystem.
Akash Kumar Choudhary, originally set to serve as the deputy captain, succumbed to injury, paving the way for fast bowler Chengkam Sangma to step in.
The squad, comprising talents like Arbin Singh, Arien Bonchang Sangma, and Md Nafees Siddique, is geared up for the rigorous competition ahead.
Meghalaya 15-member squad for the Ranji Trophy:
Arbin Singh
Arien Bonchang Sangma
Bamanbha Shangpliang
Bijon Dey
Dippu Ch Sangma
Jaskirat Singh Sachdeva
Kishan Lyngdoh
Lerry G Sangma
Md Nafees Siddique
Ram Gurung
Raj Biswa
Swarajeet Das
Sanvert Kurkalang
Tarique Siddique
Chengkam Sangma
Fixtures:
vs Arunachal Pradesh, from January 5
vs Hyderabad, from January 12
vs Nagaland, from January 19
vs Mizoram, from January 26
vs Sikkim, from February 2
